Giving up Musical Instruments for Lent

Giving Stuff Up. 
Each year I wonder at the notion of giving something up. It is admirable of course, and can lead to new spiritual depths in the process. However sometimes the giving up of chocolate, grog, or coffee becomes almost a boast in some. One year I had a friend who gave up car travel for Lent. Great. But in reality instead of driving her own car, she constantly pestered her friends and family for lifts increasing their fuel bills and eating into their time. Unless something becomes of the denial, the action becomes a gratuitous exercise.


Why give up musical instruments?
Lent would seem to me to be the best time to have an A Capella Sunday. This is a day where the gathered people sing without instrumental accompaniment, in unison, in rounds and in part harmony. What is A Capella Sunday. 


To my mind the 'denial' of music instruments in worship turns out to be an unexpected trove of spiritual riches which bind the community in new ways. A Capella Sunday takes you out of your comfort zone. Whether you believe Lent is a personal or corporate pilgrimage, a capella singing in Lent nourishes both. 


The key here is access. If people perceive the exercise to be too difficult for them, or as something only the musicians in the community can do, there is something wrong with the approach.The SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT decision you will make is about seating arrangements. MUST READ: A Capella Sunday for seating and preparation tips.


What to Sing?
As suggested previously, the key to a successful A Cappella Sunday is preparation. Another key is repertoire choice. If you decide to have all 4 part harmony pieces led from the front, the message is that they are the focal point. Most people will become disconnected and possibly antagonistic. A Capella Sunday is about participation, and it's about community - NOT performance.


As a guide, I would choose:

• 1 well known hymn sung unaccompanied with assistance of simple drum to keep time
• 1 round or canon
• 1 echo song
• 1 simple 3 part song (usually one male part and two treble parts)

Many of our well known hymns did not start out as hymns at all, but as pop songs, folk tunes, dances and even beer drinking songs. Choosing one that works well unaccompanied is as easy as trying it yourself. If you sing the hymn as you go about your day, you'll notice it takes on its own life, free of accompaniment constraints. Go with it. The pace and mood will be altogether different. For more on this: Revisiting Old Treasures.

Rounds, canons and simple 3 parts songs are relatively easy to access thanks to the prolific and quality resources published by the Wild Goose Resource Group. Among their collections of songs from around the globe are There is One Among Us, Many and Great, We walk his way and Come All you People. There are also many possibilities included in the Altogether series: All Together Now (1980), All Together Again (1983), All Together Everybody (1991), All Together OK (1996), All Together Whatever (2001) and All Together for Good (2007). 


You already have a store of songs in your memory at your disposal. Everybody knows Kum by Yah and Jubilate Deo which are both wonderful for Lent. What's stopping you writing your own words to a round your community knows. Oh come on, you know you want to. While Row your boat doesn't quite do it for me in Lent, songs like Frere Jacques, Oh How Lovely is the Evening (trad German), Within a Shady thicket, Twinkle Twinkle little star all work as rounds.

Use pentatonic hymns and songs like Were you there, Be thou my vision, Kum by Yah, Standing in the need of prayer, and Train is a Comin' oh yeah, which all invite people to make their own harmonies. There is no such thing as a wrong note.

You are welcome to share your 4 songs for A Capella Lent with others via the comments facility on this past. Let us all know about what worked and what didn't. Why you did, or why you'll never, give A Capella Lent a guernsey.

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A Capella Advent
Getting Gatherings to Sing

Soundscape: Sounds of the Supper

On Maundy Thursday, many faith communities will gather to remember the events of the Last Supper. To that end I offer Sounds of the Supper soundscape for use in your faith community.

Please remember soundscape are aural, not visual, presentations and amplification of each sound effect and speaker is crucial to success. Rehearsal with amplification is also important.
What is a soundscape?

The soundscape is freely available for use in worship and for christian education with due acknowledgement. If you do make use of this soundscape, I'd be interested to hear about your experience. 

View/Print Sounds of the Supper


More soundscapes
How to write a Soundscape
Sounds Outside the Square 
More seasonal resources

Wedding Songs

Singing as the gathered community of family and friends is one of the few ways for those not in the official party, to participate in a marriage ceremony. Sadly, it seems to be something of a dying practice. This is a pity because song allows space, enhancing moments of reflection, reiteration and joy in what is an important and life-changing event.

Here is a list of contemporary songs, some with familiar tunes, that may find a place in a marriage ceremony.

Will you let me be your servant
Richard Gillard
Source: Together in Song, and many others

As man and woman we were made
Brian Wren (Tune: English trad)
Source: Together in Song

Blessing the Marriage
Wild Goose Resource Group
Source: Love from Below

A Christmas Blessing
Robin Mann
Source: All Together Again

God beyond Glory
Wild Goose Resource Group
Source: Love from Below

Lord and Lover of Creation
Wild Goose Resource Group
Source: Love from Below

Come as you are
Deidre Brown
Source: Gather Australia, Together in Song

For you. deep stillness
Julie Perrin & Robin Mann
Source: God Version One, NCYC 1999

Gifts that last
Wild Goose Resource Group
Source: Love from below

Faith, Hope and Love
Trish Watts
Source: All Together OK, and many others


Give us hearts to know you
Annette Fechner
Source: All Together OK

Take this moment
John L Bell
Source: Love from below, All Together OK

Bridegroom and Bride
John L Bell
Source: Love from below, Gather Australia

Come to a wedding
Shirley Erena Murray
Source: Gather Australia

May the Lord bless you today
Sharney Russell-Schleckner
Source: All Together OK

The Peace of the Earth
Guatemalen Trad, arr John L Bell
Source: There is one among us

Please add your own suggestions.

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How to Teach a Song in 4 Steps
Songmakers: short course for songleaders
Seasonal resources

Soundscape: The Tree of Knowledge

On March 13, the Garden of Eden story (Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7) is listed on the Revised Common Lectionary. To that end I offer this soundscape for possible use in your faith community.

The Tree of Knowledge (soundscape)
Please remember soundscape are aural, not visual, presentations and amplification of each sound effect and speaker is crucial to success. Rehearsal with amplification is also important.
What is a soundscape?

The soundscape is freely available for use in worship and for christian education with due acknowledgement. If you do make use of this soundscape, I'd be interested to hear about your experience. 

More soundscapes

10 Ways to Recruit Church Musicians

It's a common enough story. A faith community finds itself without an organist, and sets about advertising for a new one. In this community's mind the person needs to have the same or similar skills to the previous leader. After all, there is an instrument sitting there with no-one to play it. Right?

Wrong. This faith community is making the same mistake as has been made for generations. When musical leadership is posited as the realm of a chosen few, leadership is invariably polarised and participation inhibited. Rather than recognising the gifts of those within the community, the powers-that-be try to enforce the status quo, and miss out on what could be. This is explored in Virtual Music Barriers.

Each faith community is a unique set of challenges in this situation, not least the assumptions the community holds about music. These are often reflected in the response of potential new musicians.

Looking Beyond "No Thanks"
Fear is a potent deterent to musical leadership in the church. Here are a few common responses:

• I am not a good enough musician.
• I have no experience.
• Others will think I'm an upstart because I am not skilled enough.
• I can't lead every week.
• You need someone younger.
• You need someone older.
• I'm not like X, I can't do X like he/she could.
• I don't play an instrument.
• I don't play the organ.
• I can't sing.

Each of these responses is based on a perception of what being a church muso looks like. And what it looks like almost always limits possibility. I would argue the Key Selection Criteria for Church Musicians is somewhat broader than this.

My 10 Top suggestions for recruiting musicians attempt to squash each of these fears by providing a solution:

1. Allocate a budget
While this may be used to purchase new music, it can also be a means to invest in the skills of your people through personal development pursuits like...

2. Pay for a term of lessons
If you've a guitarist, singer, trumpeter (doesn't matter what they play) in your midst, your community could offer to pay for a term of lessons with a local teacher.

3. Establish a tutorial system
Those with less experience and expertise might be coupled with a mentor who offers one-on-one assistance.

4. Attend a workshop
Fill a car and travel to a workshop being offered in your state. Not only will you come back inspired with new ideas, but you'll do some good team building with those you travel with.

5. Look beyond your four walls
I have never met a community with no musicians living in it. They are there if you are willing to look. Seek them out and learn from them.

6. Listen beyond your four walls
Be open minded about the music styles that can be welcomed into worship. Listen widely and ask others what they like to sing and listen to. Find out what other faith communities like yours are doing.

7. Encourage your children
Are the children in your community singing? Find out how to get them involved.

8. Take baby steps
Don't move too fast. Be prepared to build slowly. If people lack confidence they will be more comfortable accompanying just one song each week for awhile.Use percussion creatively to accompany other songs.

9. Monster Music Night
Find out about your community. Hold a fun night and invite any kind of performance from groups and individuals in your midst. Be prepared to be amazed.

10. Think beyond the songs
Involve people in musical leadership in less formal ways by considering 6 Sound Innovations for Worship, use soundscapes, make your own instruments, play a music game at your next church meeting.

Effective recruitment is a perennial process. Where it is, most faith communities will find they are able to weather the comings and goings of musicians quite comfortably because they have nurtured and encouraged a community of people with various skills and abilties, and welcomed a variety of styles with grace.

You are welcome to offer your recruitment idea here for others to consider.

You may also be interested in:
How is the Church Accompanying Song in 2011?
8 Top Tips for Getting the Blokes to Sing
A Cappella Sunday
10 Ways to Improve the Band by next Sunday
10 Ways to Fertilise Your Community's Musical Life

And this article from the USA late last year: Tough Times for Church Organists 

20 (New Year) Resolutions for the Church Musician

Most New Years come and go before I've made a decent resolution. This year I am determined to be better prepared. Here is a list of suggestions you might like to run past your faith commmunity, family, actual friends and facebook friends. They are not limited to the institutional church, but extend into everyday.

1. Sing to a child
2. Listen attentively to a child singing
3. Invite everyone you know around for a singalong (just for the fun of it.)
4. Have a fundraising drive to boost the music budget
5. Clean out the music cupboard
6. Buy a new contemporary music source
7. Book a course to extend your skills
8. Recruit a new member to the church band or choir
9. Say "well done you" to another muso
10. Use an instrument you haven't tried before (harmonica, tin whistle, banjo, recorder)
11. Delegate... and trust it will be done.
12. Don't look so busy - leave the packing up until later
13. Sing in places other than the shower, just because.
14. Invite an older person (than you) to play their instrument in worship.

15. Organise an event where instrumentalists of all ages can strut their stuff.

16 Buy a really great drum (toms, djembe, bohran are all great choices)

17. Learn how to drum properly

18. Have a massage, light an aromatherapy candle, breathe deeply. 

19. Learn about and listen to a style of music you don't like

20.Sing an really ancient hymn unaccompanied all the way through.

Got another idea?

What is your musical resolution for 2011?

You may also be interested in Into the New Year: Remembering the Past and Looking to the Future

A Cappella Advent

Keeping a lid on Christmas
For worship leaders everywhere, keeping a lid on Christmas celebrations can feel like holding back the tide. End of year festivities, summer holiday preparations (in the southern hemisphere), extra worship services and activities close to Christmas day mean self-reflection and spiritual preparation often take a back seat.

This year, consider having an A Cappella Sunday during advent. Such an approach can provide a stark contrast in the midst of a busy December lifestyle.

Hints for Selecting A Cappella Songs
I have provided a dozen suggestions as a starting point. Be sure to make at least two selections your community know well. Plan to have one sung in unison, one as a canon/round, one in simple parts, and one for which people can invent their own harmonies (eg: Kum by yah)  I am certain there will be other songs you will recall as you plan. Your suggested additions to this list are welcome and may be made by means of a post comment.

What is A Cappella Sunday?

May I wish you an adventurous advent!

The Beginnings of a List

• Come all you people - Come All You People or All Together Whatever 
• Glory, Glory Glory (Argentina) - All Together OK
• Be Still and know - Come All You People, As One Voice 2
• Jubilate Deo (there are many, including Jubilate Servite by Jacques Berthier to be sung in two part canon)
• Christ the Worker - All Together Everybody
• There is a line of women - One is the Body 
• Children go, I will send you (African American Spiritual)- There are numerous word versions of this song. I have been unable to find the version i learnt as a child, so have provided what I believe are more seasonally appropriate lyrics here. 
• Kum By Yah - Come All You People, and many other sources
• O come, O come Emmanuel (plainsong melody from the 15th century which is wonderful sung unaccompanied, or with a bass drone added throughout) - many hymnbooks.
• The Peace of the Earth (This is a beautiful four part vocal song that might be offered by a quartet as a blessing)- There is One Among Us
• Father bless us as we go - All Together Now, Together in Song

How is the Church Accompanying Song in 2011?
What is A Cappella Sunday?
How to teach a song in 4 steps
View other Advent and Christmas material on this blog

Percussion Perspective

Contemporary culture puts great store on the latest technology and trends. Paradoxically, the traditional church has a tendency to scorn new ideas, instead clinging to tried and tested practices.This poses particular challenges for contemporarily minded musicians.

An Historical Perspective
Are those highly valued traditions really that old anyway? Pipe organs, for example, were unheard of for the first 1,500 years of Christendom. Prior to that church bands and a cappella singing were the order of the day. And in the early church scholars believe song was predominantly accompanied by percussion instruments.

But those old hymns were written for pipe organ, weren't they?
On the contrary, many of the oldest hymns are settings of old dance tunes, drinking songs, popular songs and patriotic anthems. Be Thou my vision (Slane) is Gaelic and hails from the 8th century (no pipe organs then my friend) and may be best accompanied with tin whistle and bodhran. Many other hymn tunes of Gaelic origin might be considered in the same light. All Creatures of our God and King (Lasst uns Erfreuen) and Praise to The Lord (Lobe den Herren) are thought to have originally been dances from northern Europe (think dancing and singing around a campfire here folks). Famously, Silent Night was written for guitar accompaniment after mice ate through the cathedral organ's bellows. But I digress!

The Trouble with Hymnbooks
Put a song into a hymnbook and you can be sure of one thing: many people will ignore its origin, assume the accompanying instrument should be the organ, and play at cathedral pace. Consequently many of our hymns are inapproprately hyper-harmonised in the traditional mould, diminishing one of the great strengths of our repertoire - global diversity.  God sends us his Spirit hails from Ghana. How many pipe organs do you think there are are in Ghana?

Using Percussion to Enlivening the Singing
Accompanying sung voices with percussion is the most effective way of ensuring the sung words are dominant. The more notes that are played by instrumentalists, the less weight is given to the sung text. Not only does harmonisation alter the mood of the song, but it also tends to slow its tempo or pace. Keep in mind that cathedral pace, neccesarily slow because of the reverberant acoustic in a cathedral, is irrelevent in most worship spaces. 

Advantages of Percussion Accompaniment

1. Most People Can
Most of those who come to worship can tap in time, and by extension will be able to play a simple beat. Fewer people, but still a goodly number, can play a simple complementary rhythm. It doesn't need to be complex. A simple beat on the first beat of the bar can be surprisingly effective. Most people will need to devote their entire attention to their percussion part, and refrain from singing.
 
2. Portability
There is no need for electricity and so percussion instruments have obvious advantages for stations of the cross, carol singing, worship-on-the-move, camps, and worship in the open air. Many larger drums can be hung across the body of their player by drumming straps.
 
3. Inexpensive
OK, so they can be very expensive, depending on what you choose to purchase. Claves, tone blocks and maracas are easily found at reasonable prices. A maraca egg can be bought for just a dollar or two. A quality tambourine or cabasa is a little more expensive, and good quality drums can set the heart rate apace!

However, fairs and fetes, local music shops and e-bay are great places to pick up a bargain. Washboards can occasionally be found in second hand shops - and I'll wager there are plenty of older folks who have an old one lying around in their shed.  Consider making your own instruments for a fraction of the price. Start by acquiring a great drum, the deeper the better, and build from there.

Getting Started - What to Play
I am not a fan of the everyone-pick-up-an-instrument-and-whack routine. We can do much better than that! Rather have two or three well-rehearsed people accompany a song with well-chosen rhythms. One person might simply beat a drum on the first beat of each bar, providing stability to the ensemble. A second could choose a brief and interesting rhythm from the song and play it several times throughout, leaving plenty of space inbetween. To get started, have a gander at my percussion suggestions for using The King of Glory Comes and Praise to the Lord. Better still, find out how to have a full-on A Cappella Sunday.

And another thing...
For drummers, faith communities can be a tough crowd, particularly those with a traditional music heritage. Take a look at this article, The Challenge of Playing Drums in Church by John Schmidli which offers practical solutions to some common pitfalls for young drummers.

You may also be interested in
Poll: How Does the Church Accompany Song in 2011?
Psalm 107 with Drum

Visit Spirited and Singing on Facebook

10 Ways to Improve the Church Band by Next Sunday

How's the band sounding? Enliven your musical output by adopting one or more of these ideas.

1. Rehearse before Sunday!
2. At rehearsal get all band members to sing the song before playing - this is a great for getting the right speed.
3. Ask everyone to practise at home before the joint rehearsal.
4. Tune up properly - spend time on this step, until you get it right.
5. Position the band at the back of the worship space, because change is as good as a holiday, and listen to the singing lift.
6. Those who can play while standing, should be standing.
7. Rehearse introductions and endings several times over for each song. Make sure they improve each time you rehearse them.
8. Record the band playing at rehearsal then play it back - ask them how they (personally and corporately) can improve the result. Make sure they act on their own advice.
9. Use stable music stands
10.Don't play the melody - that's the singer's part.

You may also be interested in the short course for song leaders - Songmakers

Visit Spirited and Singing on Facebook

virtual music barriers

All congregations have virtual barriers when it comes to music. I'm not talking here about musical taste so much as a set of assumptions. For example, some communities limit themselves, closing off multiple possibilities by appealing for an organist, choiur master, pianist or guitarist, rather than being open to the gifts present within the community. 

Take a moment to consider your community. How many people here do you think learned a musical instrument in years past? Probably more than you realise. In my own congregation, I once jotted down 42 people I knew played instruments, let alone those I was to discover later.

Here are some ideas you might like to consider as a starting point to realising greater potential:

1. Find out who learned an instrument as a child or young person.
2. Find out who sings in the shower, or whistles in the shed.
3. Who knows how to play a recorder - the recorder has been widely taught in classrooms for decades now.
4. Who has taught themselves an instrument?
5. Welcome players of tuba, bagpipes, banjo, autoharp, harmonica, african drums, electric guitar and piano accordian into your instrumental mix.
6. Find out who has connections to musicians/artists beyond the faith community.
7. Focus on the missing demographic within your musical leadership
8. Who has an instrument in the attic or under their bed that can be utilised by someone?
9. Who would be willing to contribute musically once a month, or twice a term?
10. Who are the people preparing for music exams? Are there VCE music students in your local community who need an audience? Can they be invited to play for offering, or communion distribution this week?
11. Run a confidence building session for interested parties, and enlist the help of a local music teacher at the congregation's expense.

12. Consider if your musicians are leaving themselves open to a level of criticism no flower arranger would ever be expected to endure.

You may also be interested in Why We 'Like' Those who Share our Musical Tastes

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8 Top Tips for Getting Blokes to Sing

Getting men in your faith community singing can be challenging. Unless a strong singing culture already exists, and a decent number of blokes are present, men often feel their voice is too exposed, and resist singing with anything like great gusto.

Some years back, in my own congregation, the collective voice of men became so reticent, despite their significant number, that I set about trying to identify the problems. After listening to what they had to say, the 8 Top Tips for Getting Blokes to Sing emerged quite effortlessly.

Getting the voice of men going is an ongoing adventure. However, one delightful observation has been that on the week "Blokes Vocals" lead the singing in my congregation, the eyes of the boys shine as they too attempt to lift the roof.

1. Use male song leaders

Chances are your male musicians are not leading the singing, but contribute on piano, guitar, bass or drums, with a female offering the vocal lead. What this can often mean is that men in the congregation perceive the song is "too high" because the songleader is singing an octave above.

2. Check the pitch of your songs

It has to be said, many of our community songs are too high. It seems to be an area often neglected by music publishers. I suspect the key of most songs is chosen because of its accessibility for instruments, or that it sits comfortably for the individual who wrote it. As a rule of thumb, I consider any song exceeding a high D, or E flat at the most, to be prohibitive. Many will even find that D too difficult to handle, especially first thing in the morning.

3. Include songs with male imagery

Consider the text of some of the songs we sing, and you'll understand why they confront the masculine. To use an oldie as an example, "If I were a butterfly" is a phrase no self-respecting 16 year-old man will add his voice to. Just as we have become conscious about using feminine images in worship, so too should we ensure there is music that resonates with men and boys.

4. Use bass instruments in your band

 If your instrumental combination is top-heavy with treble instruments, men may feel unsupported. Try doubling the bass on piano or keyboard, or using other bass instruments.

5. Encourage blokes to sit together

For reasons similar to tip 4, men fell particularly exposed when surrounded by treble singers - this may include their partner and children. If you can devise ways of bunching blokes together, it will bolster confidence and participation.

6. Flush out their favourites

Find out which songs the men in your congregation like. The revelations can help ensure there is at least one winner each time. It may also help to inform new song choices.

7. Get the guys together

In my faith community, a few years back. we decided to get a bunch of guys together to lead the singing one Mother's Day. I enlisted one of our male keyboard players to run the rehearsal, beacause I wanted it to be a men's thing. His main fear was that the outcome would be akin to a footy team singing the club song at the end of the game. Sure, the results are unlikley to be top-notch, but the positives are many.

Whenever our "Blokes Vocals" lead the singing the corporate voice is as uplifting as I have ever experienced. Everyone sings their heart out, with a grin on their face. People regularly report how uplifting iot was, and report shivers down the back of their neck. Yes, it IS that good. "Blokes Vocals" is often enlisted to introduce new songs, as it ensures on the occasions they sing within the community, they will offer a strong lead.

8. Use songs with men/boy's parts

This is one way of getting men and boys linked in to each other's voices. Sing songs with a women/girls part and a men/boys part. Any two-part thing will do. Have a leader for each part up front, and observe the results. If you get a boy to lead the part, most men will make a second effort.  In a standard community song, it is also great to have females sing a verse, and males to sing another.

I'd love to hear what you have tried and tested in your faith community.


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Why don't the Children sing?
Virtual Music Barriers

Why don't the children sing?

Too often children who sing in bed after the lights go out, who hum while drawing, sing the national anthem, or a footy team song, fall silent in the worship context.

What is it about the worship experience that inhibits the song of children?
At what moment in our lives do we move from listening, to contributing to community singing?

Reflecting on your own situation, consider these questions:
1. Do you encourage children to sing?
2. Is the "children's song" understood as code that they are not to sing at other times?
3. Which songs do the children most enjoy? Do you know what they are?
4. Can they read the words?
5. Can they see the words?
6. Is there more than one instance each week where a song is accessible to non-readers?
7. Have they other opportunities to learn/sing the songs away from worship?
8. Is there a person in your faith community who encourages children to sing?
9. Has a culture of not singing developed?

Encouraging the voice of children
From what I have observed the principle barrier to the participation of children is the inaccessability of the songs themselves. We are big on words in the church, and lots of long and complicated ones which require definition. Using simple repetitive songs and chants can make a big difference.

A story to illustrate perhaps. One Sunday in my congregation we learnt Kyrie Eleison (Bridget) by John Bell. This particular Kyrie has a cantor/song leader singing a phrase, which is repeated by the gathered people. We sang it perhaps 5 or 6 times in the context of a spoken prayer. After worship had finished several families met at McDonalds for a birthday party. It was possibly 2 hours after the Kyrie had been sung, and silence had descended as the kids sat about eating their 'happy meals'. All at once one of the 5 year old put down his burger, looked around at his friends, and launched into the cantor's part - "Kyrie eleison" to which the other children responded, "kyrie eleison!" It was quite a moment. The children had all absorbed the song, despite its unfamiliar text, becasue it was repetitive, attractive to them and musically accessible. They had taken the song beyond the worship context and into their lives.

If all else fails....
- Regularly include short prayer responses, amens, alleluias and doxologies that children can sing well. 
- Teach the children a new song, and have them teach the congregation one Sunday morning. Not only will you have captive learners, but the rehearsal during the week will ensure the families are all on board too.
- If you must hand out percussion instruments (no I'm not a fan), do so only when the songs are inaccessible.
- Introduce actions, claps or stomps.
- Have children teach the adults the actions
- If you have a goodly number of children allocate them their own part in a round
- Expect them to sing - they are part of the worshipping body like everyone else.
- Enlist the 'help' of older children

What other tips do you have for engaging children in the sing?

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How is the Church Accompanying Singing in 2011?